Responses_to_QuestionsNIHOD2013398-NIH_CompMultipleCompWasteVer.5.docx

NIH Comprehensive Multiple Component Waste

Management Services

NIHOD2013398

Responses to Questions:

1.

Question- Where is the composting material (animal bedding and food waste) being taken currently?

Answer- This is what we are judging the contractor on, their

2.

Question - Where are toner cartridges being taken currently?

3.

Question- Does the current contractor have someone on-site full time to handle recycling removal?

Answer- They need to read the SOW and Performance Standards and provide a response based on what we are seeking in those documents.

4.

Answer- The date of March 15, 2015 for receipt of proposals is a typographical

5.

6. Question- Is the Pre-Solicitation Conference sign in sheet available to the public?

Answer – A request must be submitted to the NIH FOIA office for a copy of the sign in sheet.

7. Question – 1. Item 3(f): Special projects - It is requested that we provide a unit price, however the type of project is unknown.

Answer(s) 1-4

Answer(s) 1-4 1. The government is evaluating bidders based on their knowledge of the industry and their ability to propose plans that reflect that knowledge.

9. Question - 1) Item 7 (k) on the pricing schedule refers to “Remunerations for Recycling”. Article 11 (pg 42), paragraph (a) says “It is hereby understood and agreed that remuneration for the tonnage value of recycled materials shall be _____ [to be completed at time of award] of the amount received by the contractor from the recycling outlet(s).

Please clarify if the government is requiring a remuneration rate, in the form of a percentage, to be included with the pricing schedule Item 7(k) as part of the proposal, or is the remuneration rate determined at the time of award, as indicated in Article 11(a).

Answer – 1) The Recycling Remuneration rate is determined at the time of award. Remuneration rates will vary according to market rates for recycling commodities, so each recycling commodity will have an individual remuneration rate. I.e. Mixed paper, scrap metal, pallets, commingled recycling, etc.

10.

11.

Answer – Please contact the FOIA representative for your request

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Freedom of Information Officer Building 31, Room 5B35

12.

Question – If an interested party, offeror or firm did not attend the pre-bid meeting, are They still eligible to bid on this contract?

Answer – YES.

13.

Question- Previous Federal Contracts have required completion of a cover sheet (SF 1449) and acknowledgement of amendments using SF 30.

Neither of these documents are provided on the web site. Please provide if required.

Answer- A form 1449 will be attached. There is no need for a Form 30 at this time.

A PDF form SF 1449 will be attached for completion and submission as cover sheet for proposal.

14. Attachment 23 Pricing schedule 3. (a) and 4. (a) list 2008 hours for the service identified.

Question; should this value be 2080 hours?

Answer: No, 2008 hours is correct.

15. On page 86 and 90 of attachment 23 Past Performance is looked at in 2 different ways, Pg 86 called for it to be 1 of 3 distinct sections, and on Pg 90 section 10 states that it should be part of the technical proposal.

Question: which of these sections are correct

Answer: Regarding your past performance submission, the only important issue is to simply follow the instructions and format provided in Section 10, page 90.

16. Attachment 1 (NIH Installations Waste Services Table) list 30 locations outside of the Main Campus and the Poolesville location for Solid Waste Services, MPW Services, Full Recycling Services and Off-Site Recycling Rentals & Hauling Only. Attachment 22/7 (Minimum Off Campus MPW Collection Schedule) not sure which attachment number is correct her, none the less, list frequency of service. Some of these locations are closed on one attachment and open on another.

Question: Which off campus locations are currently receiving services that the prospective contractor will have to service, do we need to provide interior/exterior containers etc.

Answer: Attachment 21 (22) has the current list of service location in operation for MPW pickup locations. Att. 1 is a list of services provided at listed locations. If Att. 21 says location is closed it applies to Att. 1. Generators provide their own MPW containers as specified in SOW. Over-packs will be provided by Contractor in case of leaking MPW containers.

17. On page 16 read the last sentence…..refers to disposal of refrigerators and removing the Freon as the responsibility of the contractor.

Question: How many refrigerators have been decommissioned in this current contract period?

Answer: This is categorized as a “Special Project.” The Contractor is not required to provide a Cost for this as it may vary from 1 to X number of freezers and quantity is unknown.

18. On page 99 the second to last paragraph of the b) MPW Service: Specifies that two primary medical waste incinerators must be identified. It also specifies that "In addition, at least one other facility shall be identified that uses a treatment method other than conventional medical waste incineration"

Incineration is the most expensive method for treating regulated medical waste. There are currently about 14 commercial incinerators in the Country, and they are facing very stringent regulations forcing retrofits for 2014. This will be increasing the cost significantly. The pricing for the disposal of MPW identifies 2,000,000 pounds and only offers a single line for pricing. There is a significant difference in the pricing for alternative treatment methods. The industry is expecting the cost to increase dramatically over the next 5 years.

Question: Will a line be added for the pricing of alternative treatment methods so that the NIH can take the benefit of the reduced cost?

Answer: If an alternate disposal methodology is implemented during the course of the contract a modification to the contract will be made to accommodate the new methodology and a new price line item will be added with any additional requirements.

19. We noticed during the tour that NIH provides their own MPW packaging materials. We are concerned about supplies at the facilities “Off Campus”, especially the location in Baltimore.

Question: Are there any MPW pick up locations that will require MPW Packaging supplies to be provided by the contractor, other than the wet packages delivered repackaged at Bldg 25?

Answer: All MPW packaging is provided by the generators of the MPW both on campus and at leased facilities. The only container the contractor will need to provide for MPW are DOT approved over packs for leaking containers.

20. The truck for building 10 is identified as a holding unit.

Question 1: Is this unit refrigerated as the trailer is required to be at building 25?, Answer: No the truck for building 10 will not be required to be refrigerated.

Question 2: Does NIH provide electric for the bldg. 10 unit or the refrigerator trailer at bldg. 25?

Answer: Yes the NIH will provide electric for the refrigerated unit at building 25. There is also electric provided at building 10, but refrigeration for the Bldg. 10 truck is not required.